New York City Health Commissioner Neal L. Cohen, M.D., announced Friday, August 4, that a 78 year-old Staten Island man has tested laboratory-positive for West Nile virus. Serum and spinal fluid samples from the patient were received by the New York City Department of Health (NYCDOH) on July 27, tested for West Nile virus, and reported as positive on July 28. Testing at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was initially equivocal on July 30, but repeat testing this past week was reported positive on August 3. Additional confirmatory test results will be available in another week. The individual became ill with symptoms of meningo-encephalitis (fever, dizziness, light-headedness) on July 20, and was admitted to a local hospital on July 22. After one week in the hospital, the patient was released and is now at home recovering.

Dr. Cohen was joined by Deputy Mayor Joseph J. Lhota, Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management Director Richard Sheirer, Staten Island Borough President Guy V. Molinari, and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) West Nile Virus Coordinator Steven M. Ostroff, M.D.

Dr. Cohen said, “Symptoms of West Nile virus begin between 5 to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, indicating that this individual was infected before the City implemented its recent control efforts on Staten Island. Our intensive, ongoing bird and mosquito surveillance program documented significant West Nile viral activity on Staten Island in mid-July, especially in the southern half of Staten Island where this patient lives. Spraying was conducted on July 19 in response to those early warnings, as well as follow-up spraying throughout Staten Island on August 2 as a precaution. In addition, more than 40 lakes, ponds, and marshes on Staten Island received aerial applications of larvicide on July 27 and 28, and larviciding of catch basins is ongoing. The City will continue to take action where necessary to reduce the mosquito population and minimize the potential for additional human illnesses based on positive surveillance findings in birds, mosquitoes, and humans.

“With this news of the City’s first human case of West Nile virus this year, and with the information we have received over the past few weeks on the increasing numbers of dead birds confirmed to be infected with West Nile virus in New York City, all New Yorkers, particularly those on Staten Island and those more at risk for severe illness, especially the elderly, should continue to take precautions against mosquitoes. In addition, I urge all New Yorkers to help the City and each other to mosquito-proof New York City by eliminating the areas of standing water where mosquitoes may breed,” Dr. Cohen said